UN aid mission studies security around Umm Qasr

A United Nations mission to the southern Iraqi port of Umm Qasr concluded the security situation was "positive", but there will be no decision before Thursday on starting aid operations, a UN official said.

UN security officials, who must give the all-clear before UN aid agencies can start work in Iraq, went to the port on Tuesday and another visit will be made on Thursday, the official said, who declined to be named.

"The UN security team ... gave a first positive impression," the official said.

On Thursday, representatives of the various UN aid agencies, among them the World Food Program (WFP), UNICEF and the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) will join the inspection.

UN aid agencies withdrew all their international staff from Iraq shortly before the US-led coalition launched a war to topple Iraqi President Saddam Hussein on March 20.

Aid officials warn of a humanitarian crisis unless deliveries of food, water and medicines resume soon to Iraq, where some 60 per cent of the population were wholly dependent on international assistance before the conflict began.

Umm Qasr, Iraq's only deep water port, was one of the first towns to be captured by US and British troops, but only after fierce fighting.